BIRCH BUTTON UP x SEW A LITTLE SEAM | v1 + A GIVEAWAY!
This review is my honest opinion of a pattern I received free of charge as a pattern tester for Sew a Little Seam.
I am beyond excited to share with you the newest pattern from Sew A Little Seam, the Birch Button Up, plus a giveaway! GIVEAWAY CLOSED.
The Birch is a button up shirt with a relaxed fit and several sleeve, placket, and collar options to create a custom shirt. Designed for wovens, the Birch looks especially sharp in fabrics like chambray and flannel, and the optional hood can also be made with knit. The pattern fits from size 3 months to size 16, which means its a great pattern for a wide range of kids and is perfect for boys and girls alike.
A collared button up for Ren has been on my to-sew list for a few months now, but I've had a hard time finding a pattern that achieved the style I was after. Either the collar was too large (seventies style), or the front was too western, or the silhouette was awkward...nothing really seemed to stand out to me. But when I saw the tester call for the Birch I was sold. It was exactly what I was looking for! The collar shape and size were perfect, the ease was a happy medium, and the construction was pretty much flawless. I jumped on that tester call so fast!
First, lets talk about making a collared button up. You guys. This pattern will make you feel like one Bad-A Sewist. I don't know why I never questioned this, but I kinda had this assumption that a garment like a button up would always have to be something I bought at the store. But Kelly's pattern makes it so doable! Every option and detail is broken down in to simple steps with plenty of photos so things like the front placket or the sleeve tower placket are easily constructed. And no corners are cut on this shirt! Seams are constructed with the flat felled method and topstitching which means the shirt looks professional inside and out. My personal goal with sewing is to make garments that look as far from homemade as possible, so I really appreciate the thorough construction and thoughtful details.
The Birch button up includes several options allowing for virtually infinite combinations and styles. First, there is a full placket for a traditional button up, or a partial placket for a henley style woven shirt. There are also multiple hem choices, like a straight hem, curved, hem, and even a tie version (look forward to Mars' tie button up version!). A side vent can also be added to the Birch.
Quite a few pocket options are included as well, like three pocket styles (pointed, flat, and pleated flat), two flap styles (pointed and flat), and a kangaroo pocket for the partial placket shirt too.
The sleeve is another point of serious customization, with options for short sleeve, long sleeve, sleeveless, and rolled sleeve with tab for the short and long sleeve. And further, the long sleeve can be made with a continuous placket or tower placket as well. Wanting to challenge myself as much as possible, I went with the tower placket on my sleeve, which was a great place to add some contrasting Rifle Paper Co. Les Fleurs cotton. This was one of those details that felt so rewarding to construct and was much easier than I thought it would be. I love being able to look at a shirt and now understand just how its made! As a note, the sleeves on mine are on the longer side, but this was resolved in testing.
Another opportunity for contrasting fabric is the collar and collar stand. I chose to make the inside collar stand in the same Les Fleurs fabric, which I'm just a tiny bit obsessed with. Details like contrasting elements totally elevate a garment and really make it something special. Contrast could also be added to the underside of the collar and the inside of the partial placket---and thanks to Kelly, the pattern pieces used for contrast are conveniently identified so you know exactly where to add it. In addition to contrasting collars or collar stands, the Birch also has multiple neckline options like the standard collar, collarless, hood with collar, and hood without collar.
I'm seriously in love with this pattern--after I made it I would sit there and just examine every favorite detail, I love it so much. The Birch is such a satisfying make! I can't wait to give it another go...I was thinking of adding some mini buttons by the collar to make an oxford style button up for Ren to match his dad. Also stay tuned to see how I used the same pattern to make the cutest button up for Mars too!
GIVEAWAY CLOSED
To celebrate this amazing pattern, I'm giving away one copy of the new Birch button up! Head to my Instagram and leave a comment on the giveaway post telling me how you'd customize your perfect Birch, and I'll pick one lucky winner at random on July 31st!
You can also head to the Sew A Little Seam Facebook group to grab a coupon code for 30% off the new Birch pattern, good through August 1st!
Pattern: Birch Button Up by Sew A Little Seam (affiliate link)
Fabric: Essex Yarn Dyed Linen Blend in Seafoam by Robert Kaufman
Constrast: Les Fleurs: Rosa in Peach by Rifle Paper Co. x Cotton & Steel
